BY SUMMER CRANDALL

I’m sure every teen hates hearing the line, ‘The older you get, the more you’ll realize.’ For many Kansas City teens, that line doesn’t ring true. Eggs cost nearly six dollars a dozen, gas prices continue to climb, and car repairs can take months of saving. Rising costs are hitting teenagers where it matters most: their part-time jobs, allowances, and everyday spending. Teenagers no longer have to reach a different age to realize that being a teenager is becoming expensive.

Part-time work has long been a way for teens to earn spending money, save for future goals, or help at home. But economic pressures are changing the landscape. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 37% of U.S. teens ages 16–19 are in the labor force, but rising living costs often outpace their earnings. Local teens report working extra hours just to cover basics like gas and food.

Parents feel the strain too. Rising prices for groceries, gas, and entertainment mean allowances don’t go as far. Teens are being forced to rethink spending habits by cutting back on outings, saving less, or finding creative ways to make money. According to Investopedia, a teenager’s food costs alone can run between $3,144 and $5,468 per year, not including transportation, activities, or clothing.

Teens are finding creative solutions. Online sales, tutoring younger students, and informal gigs are helping bridge the gap. Local high school students can speak directly about how inflation affects their schedules, income, and daily lives. Parents can provide perspective on allowances and budgeting. Employers hiring teens can discuss changing work patterns and challenges.

Economists like Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, note that younger workers are disproportionately affected by inflation. Wages for teens tend to be lower and less flexible, so the rising cost of living pushes them to work more hours or take on additional jobs.

For Kansas City teens, the rising cost of living isn’t an abstract number it’s real, immediate, and reshaping the way they work, spend, and plan for the future. The line about “you’ll realize when you’re older” may have some truth, but for many teens, that realization is happening now.